Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-06-12
THE FIELD TELEGRAPH.
DANGERS TO WHICH OP--.ATORS
WERE EXPOSED DU9M...c THE WAR.

WERE EXPOSED DUee..a.'- THE WAR.
A Warning just in the Nick Of Time.
Part Played by g Planter's Private
wire-Tapping tho Enemy's Wires.
Raiding.
The Union armies in the west, in advanc-
ing, left behind them vast stretch OF
country infested by guerriilas and exposed to
formidable raids by the cavalry OF Wheeler
and Forrest.
The operators in Tennessee and Kentucky
were always in danger OF surprise and cap
ture. Although they were non-combatants,
the Confederates would not consent to treat
them as civilians Hence ii happened that
over seven per cent. of the operators in the
service were carried off at one time
OF another to Libby prison CIR An
jacksonville. Sometimes, however, the
warning would come from the next station
Just in the nick of time. "Guerrillas are
coming" Sometimes the cutting of the wires
would advise the man at the key that some
thing was wrong. In such cases the only
thing for the operator to do Yves to smash the
battery, disengage the instrument, take it
under his arm, jump out the window and
start for the woods.
In 1864, just about the time of the fall Of
Atlanta, Gen Hood sent Wheeler with large
body of cavalry into Tennessee to destroy the
depots Of supplies along the railroad from
Louisville to Nashville and Chattanooga. To
nlislead the Union forces it was given out
that the expedition was bound for eastern
Kentucky. This was, in fact, the course for
time; but once across the border Of Ten
nessee, Wheeler turned sharply to the left
and headed for Murfreesboro, where there
was Union garrison. Twc telegraph opera
tors, James Jones and James Palmer, stationed
at Jacksboro, took turns at the instrument,
and in the interval secuted the country in
search Of Wheeler. Palmer fell in with him,
and being in civilians dress passed himself off
for farmer. He was compelled to ride with
the cavalry for some hours and then allowed
to go. Cantering slowly until out of sight Of
the moving column, Palmer headed for the
office at a breakneck pace. JIM" said he,
as soon as he could dismount, Il fell in with
Wheeler's cavalry and managed to get clew
They are not bound for Kentucky at all, but
for Murfreesboro, Tenn Can up the operator
at once"
"Click Click" No answer
Those fellows must have cut the line on the
other side of Winters Gap Try the Louis
vile circuit" This proved to be all right,
and Wheeler found Gen. Rousseau waiting
anxiously for him on his arrival, and his
forces-tbanks to the boys at Jacksboro-
were dispersed and driven into Alabama.
There was an instance on the other side Of
the same kind About 100 miles above
al,
poker player He had for his convenience
a private Geographic line running down the
bank of the river to the city below. One
night while he was having little quiet game
with friend he thought he heard steam
boat. Rushing to the door he was astounded
to see the river for miles and miles alive with
gunboats and transports. He rushed to
the instrument at once: "Vicksburg! Wick
burg! for Gods sake get ready! Millions
of 'Yanks' are floating by my plantation"
This was Sherman's expedition from Mem
phis on the way to the fruitlesS assault upon
the Chickasaw bluffs. near the Yazoo river.
The Union forces had hoped to surprise
the garrison, but the planters iprivate wire
had let the cat out OF the bag. When
the news arrived at Vicksburg most of the
officers were at party. In the midst of
a quadrille came the growing undertone
of the long roll from the batteries on the
heights.
The tapping of the wires was resorted to by
both sides during the war. This was an ex-
tremely hazardous proceeding ANY one
caught in the act would, of course. be exc
cuted at once as spy. Ellsworth, noted
operator attached to the command of John
Morgan, was very expert at this business. He
always carried pocket instrument which he
could attach to the main line. BY the aid of
this he could be put in circuit without open
ing or breaking the current. During one Of
Morgan's raids the operator at Gallatin,
Tenn, was captured before he could give n
danger signal by wire. Ellsworth took his
place, and for several hours deceived the
other offices. He reported the track clear
from guerrillas, in order that trains might be
sent along, which would, of course, have been
captured. Fortunately an old operator, who
knew Ellsworth's touch well, happened to
take his seat at the key board and instantly
recognized him. Ellsworth was so accom-
plished an operator that he was able to cut a
wire, place the two ends against his tongue,
and by the vibrations read all messages conf
ing over the lines.
1t is said that when Hooker was preparing
to cross the Rappahannock on the eve OF
Charlottesville there was reason to suspect
that Gen Lee was getting too much news.
Investigation discovered cable resting upon
the bed of the river, crossing it and connected
with an underground insulated wire on shore
This was traced to small house opposite
Fredericksburg. The operator at the Federal
end of the line was discovered and arrested,
and has not been seen since
When Stoneman, Sheridan, Wilson, Rous-
seau and other cavalry leaders were raiding
in the enemys country it was the custom to
cut down telegraph poles, chop them into
stove lengths, and twist the wires into Cor
dian knots. An operator named O'ReiIly, at
tached to Gen. Grierson's command during
the Mississippi raid. hit upon a very simple
plan which rendered the telegraph lines use
less and at the same time left them standing
This puzzled the Confederates for long time
ORellly now and then cut the wires, inserted
between the ends a remembering substance,
and then welded the ends together Appar-
emily the wires were as good as new but they
couldn't be made to work-Chicago Herald.
A Reminiscenoe of Lincoln.
A correspondent residing in Elgin, lis
speaking Of a family Of children named
| Newhall, who thirty-tive years ago gave